Africa's image of being unwilling to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic scourge afflicting millions of its citizens worsens today with news of a new, deplorable practice at the hands of Pentecostal pastors. Pastors are now confiscating the HIV+ and AIDS sufferers to give up their anti-retrovirals (along with their life's savings) in exchange for healing through prayer. Pray the AIDS away, if you will.

At prayer healing services in some Pentecostal churches, pastors invite people infected with HIV to come forward for a public healing, after which they burn the person’s anti-retroviral medications and declare the person cured.

The “cure” is not free, and some people say they shell out their life savings to receive a miracle blessing and quit taking the drugs.

“I believe people can be healed of all kinds of sickness, including HIV, through prayers,” said Pastor Joseph Maina of Agmo Prayer Mountain, a Pentecostal church on the outskirts of Nairobi. “We usually guide them. We don’t ask for money, but we ask them to leave some seed money that they please.”

Not all in Africa's religious community are on board with the new practice.

“We (clergy) must demonstrate leadership in this area,” said Jane Ng’ang’a, who coordinates the Kenya chapter of INERELA+, an interfaith network of religious leaders living with HIV. “We should be in the forefront, encouraging adherence to the medicines, as we offer psychological and mental support to those infected and affected.”

But INERELA+'s plea isn't being heard fast enough. As victims of the pastoral scam experience worsening symptoms or death, reports of at least 10 patients a month (in Nairobi alone) falling victim to the practice are on the rise.

I don't understand how anyone could do such a thing. Sick people are desperate for a cure, no matter what's wrong with them. How could they be treated this way? The church wouldn't do this to cancer patients or even patients with the flu. This is a deliberate attempt to wipe out AIDS victims. Not to mention if you tell a person infected with AIDS that they are cured, they are at risk to unintentionally spread it to others. And Zachary, I am not targeting Christians, as I am one. I am saying organized deliberate attempts to kill people are wrong.

Zachary, how uninformed can you be!!!!!!! It's people like you that make my work possible to raise awareness. You may be closed minded, but just the same, uninformed. Might be safe to keep your opinions to yourself until you study a bit (alot) further!

Honestly, this seems like a jab at the church the way it is written. They aren't making these people do anything. They are offering a service and these people are paying for it. I don't agree with it by any means, but again this is a choice these people have made of their own free will.